Educational Background

Sam Houston State University, Ph. D.

Criminal Justice Management                    December 1989

Sam Houston State University, MA

Police Science & Administration                December 1985

St. John’s University, BA 

Criminal Justice                                            June 1979

Full-Time Teaching Experience

St. John’s University

College of Professional Studies  

Associate Professor        Sept.  2001   Present

Professional Experience

1981 – 2001  Twenty years of progressively responsible professional experience in law enforcement.

Director of Training - New York City Police Department

April 1995 – September 2001

The New York City Police Academy was the largest law enforcement training facility in the country, with a training staff of 629 sworn and 128 civilian employees and an annual operating budget of $26.7 million dollars.  During my tenure as director, I served as an executive level advisor to the police commissioner, 1st deputy police commissioner, chief of the department, and the chief of personnel.  

As the director, I led a management team that was responsible for the comprehensive professional development of 40,000 uniformed and 10,000 civilian members of the New York City Police Department.  I was also responsible for formulating, coordinating, and evaluating all the educational programs of the agency, determining the nature and scope of all curricula, specialized courses, programs and instructional methods used by the professional and instructional staff. As directed by the police commissioner, I was also responsible for fund-raising efforts in the form of seeking and creating grants and scholarships to offer additional educational opportunities to the members of the New York City Police Department.  A summary of my major accomplishments include the following:

A complete reorganization of all police academy educational and training operations was accomplished.  This included instituting a proactive approach to training that was constantly re-evaluated to sustain relevancy and excellence.  All educational initiatives were carefully linked to the police commissioner’s most current operational priorities.

With the collaboration of the faculty and administration of the College of Professional Studies, a “Visiting Professor Program” was implemented at the New York City Police Academy.  This collaboration invited faculty from the College of Professional Studies to teach at the New York City Police Academy, and Police Academy faculty to teach at St. John’s.  At the time, this was the first faculty teaching exchange program between a university and a police academy in the country.    

Established the “New York City Police Department Board of Visitors.”  Structured after the United States Military Academy at West Point’s Board of Visitors, this board existed to provide visiting expertise in a collaborative effort to make educational recommendations and to express the community perspective on educational issues. 

Directed the New York City Police Department’s Cadet Corps Program, a citywide college based internship of approximately 600 cadets.  This program offers financial benefits and scholarships to New York City university students who are considering law enforcement as a career option.  Currently, approximately twenty of the N.Y.P.D. cadets are St. John’s University students.

Proposed and obtained official agency certification from Cornell University in equal employment opportunity laws and complaint processing for the New York City Police Department.  This certification was required to initiate a comprehensive education and training effort designed to address the issues of sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity in the workplace. 

Improved academic standards in the Recruit Officer Training Program.  This was accomplished, at least in part, by eliminating the recruit officer holdover practice for academic failures, and by raising the academic passing standards from 70% to 75%.

Developed and instituted a newly structured Behavioral Science curriculum for recruit officers which incorporated lessons on cultural competence, diversity, human interaction skills, culture, and current immigration trends in New York City.  

Instituted academic improvements that collectively enhanced the overall quality of the recruit officer training.  For example, these improvements reduced the overall training period by thirty training days and served to improve academic performance in such key areas as the mean academic scores (increased from 82.7% to 86.9%), improved standardized reading scores, decreased academic failure rates, and produced a 27% increase in enforcement activity during the field training experience.

Director of Training - New York City Transit Police

January 1993 – April 1995

With 4,500 sworn and 450 civilian members, the New York City Transit Police Department was the nation’s largest transit police force.  Prior to the merger with the New York City Police Department, the New York City Transit Police was responsible for policing New York’s transit system which operates around the clock, carrying 3.5 million riders daily in and around 469 subway stations over 714 miles of track.

As a director, I held a senior level command staff position that included administrative and operational responsibility for all educational and training operations of the department.  In that capacity, I managed the successful completion of the first independent Transit Police recruit class in July 1993.

Associate Director - Office of Management & Budget

          New York City Transit Police Department

          June 1991 – January 1993

As associate director of the Office Management & Budget, I held a command position that involved the overall operational management of one of the four bureaus in the New York City Transit Police Department. 

Responsibilities included managing the infrastructure of a bureau that included the Planning & Research Division, Operational Budget Division ($3.5 million), Capital Budget Division ($200 million), Crime Analysis Division, and Facilities Planning and Management Division.

Police Administrator - Houston Police Academy

          Houston Police Department

          June 1990 – June 1991

Upon the successful completion of my Ph.D., Chief Lee P. Brown promoted me to a mid-level management appointment that involved direct administrative and operational responsibility for management and executive development in the Houston Police Department.  The position also included responsibility for the overall command of the general operations of the Houston Police Academy. 

The Houston Police Academy is a seventy acre law enforcement training and educational complex with an operating budget of $7.9 million.  It is a comprehensive municipal law enforcement training facility consisting of twelve separate buildings and a staff of 100 sworn and civilian personnel.  The facility also includes an indoor state-of-the-art twenty-four lane firearms range, a technology center, two driver-training tracks, and a live fire “Hogan’s Alley.”

Police Officer - Houston Police Department

          July 1981 – June 1990

As a uniformed police officer in the Houston Police Department, I performed the general patrol duties expected of a patrol officer in a major, urban police agency.

For a nine-month period, I served in a special assignment and performed as an undercover police officer in the Vice Squad of the Houston Police Department.  As an undercover police officer, I investigated criminal cases involving the local, national and international manufacturing and distribution of child pornography.

Academic Awards and Honors

·        2004 – 2005, Awarded by the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board (FSB), the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State (ECA), and the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), a Fulbright Senior Specialist Award.  I have currently been approved for candidacy on the Fulbright Senior Specialist roster and arrangements are on going to coordinate a Fulbright Commission grant in the Department of Criminology at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.  

·        Recipient of the 2002-2003 H. Craig Collins Memorial Award for excellence in teaching in the Criminal Justice & Legal Studies Program.     

·        Nominated in fall 2001 for the St. Vincent de Paul Teacher Scholar Award. 

·        Nominated in spring 2002, and the spring 2003, for Teaching Excellence Award.   However, I did not have the requisite years of service to qualify for the award. 

·        Dean’s List as a Ph.D. candidate at Sam Houston State University

·        Awarded the “One Hundred Club of Houston’s” full academic scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Administration.

Professional Awards and Honors:

·        Appointed Chairman – Prentice Hall Publications Police Advisory Board, September 2002 – September 2003.  This ad hoc Police Advisory Board was created to advise Prentice Hall executives on current and emerging academic issues in criminal justice.     

·        Awarded the “Exemplary Service Award” from the New York City Police Department’s Police Reserve Association.  This acknowledgement was for exemplary leadership in providing “outstanding educational and training services to the New York City Police Department.”  December 2000.

·        Recipient of the “Award for Significant Achievement in the Law Enforcement Community,” from the Professional Crime Prevention Association and the Law Enforcement Coordination Committee. June 2000. 

·        Awarded Sam Houston State University, Criminal Justice Center’s,  “Distinguished Alumnus Award,” April 2000. 

·        Recipient of the “Award for Extraordinary Support in Responding to Missing and Abducted Children in New York State.”  Given by the State of New York, Division of Criminal Justice Services.  April 2000. 

·        Recipient of the “New York City Police Department Unit Citation Award.”  Received during the 1998 Medal Day ceremonies from Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Police Commissioner Howard Safir for “building a police academy characterized by educational excellence in virtually all programs.”  This was the first time the Police Academy was ever awarded such a distinction.  September 1998. 

·        Recipient of the “Award for Outstanding Commitment to Excellence and Leadership,” from the State of New York, Municipal Police Training Council.  Awarded for serving in an on-going capacity to develop basic training for all police officers in New York State.  March 1991. 

·        Recipient of the “Award for Professional Contribution,” from the New York and New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Regional Training Center.  June 1997. 

·        Recipient of the St. John’s University, St. Vincent’s College “Distinguished Alumnus Award,” St. Vincent’s College Award Night, April 1996. 

·        Recipient of the St. John’s University, “Criminal Justice Association Alumnus Award.”  September 1995.

·        Awarded three (3) “Chief of Police Commendations” for excellent police service with the Houston Police Department.  May 1985.  February 1988.  October, 1989

Significant/Distinguished Achievements

·        I consider my most significant achievement, at this point in my life, to be the successful career transition that I have pursued from a highly visible executive position in public service to my current career as a tenured professor and program director at St. John’s University.  From the very beginning, my goal has been to accumulate practical real-world experience, formal education and a distinguished professional reputation, and to collectively focus them on excellence in teaching, scholarship and research.

·        In addition, another distinguished achievement has been the emerging recognition as a nationally recognized criminal justice scholar.   Evidence of this national reputation includes the following recent accomplishments:

·        The publication of my book, Protecting the Republic: The Education and Training of American Police Officers, (2003) by Prentice Hall, and the chapter Counter-Terrorism Training in the Public Sector, in the book Community Preparedness and Response to Terrorism: The Role of Community Organizations and Business (2005).    

·        Being invited every year to lecture as a professor for the faculty of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.  The Bill Blackwood Institute is a part of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.  I was a faculty member for the 2004 – 2005 Executive Issues Seminar Series, where I lectured on law enforcement leadership throughout the State of Texas to chiefs of police and other law enforcement executives. 

·        Being invited every year to lecture as a professor on the faculty of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute.  For the last two years, I have served as a faculty member to teach law enforcement leadership to chiefs of police and law enforcement executives throughout the State of Illinois.  

·        Being invited three consecutive years to serve as an academic evaluator for Middle States Commission on Higher Education.  These academic visits included Sistema Universitario Ana G. Mendez Universidad del Este in Puerto Rico and the University College of Criminal Justice of Puerto Rico in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. 

 Significant Research

My scholarly research efforts over the last few academic years have been focused in the area of global terrorism and counter-terrorism training in the public sector.  This research includes operational and organizational roles and responsibilities designed to deter and respond to major acts of terrorism.   

Publications

Books:

O’Keefe, James. (2003). Protecting the republic: The education and training of  American police officers. ISBN 0-13-097778-0.  Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 

O’Keefe, James. (1990).  An empirical analysis of high-speed police pursuits: The Houston Police Department’s experience.  Doctoral Dissertation, Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International.

O’Keefe, James. (1985).  A freeway speed reduction strategy and its effects on speed limit enforcement. 

Masters thesis, Sam Houston State University: Huntsville, Texas. 

Chapters in Edited Books:

O’Keefe, James & Brown, C. (2005).  Counter-terrorism training in the public sector.  In J. Johnson, M.L. Kennedy, &  N. Delener (Eds.), Community preparedness and response to terrorism: The role of the community organizations and business (pp.15-39).  Westport, Ct.: Praeger Press.

Journal Articles:

O’Keefe, James.  (1995).  Training in action: The New York City Transit Police Academy.  The Journal for Transit Police Service, 5, 07-10. 

O’Keefe, James, & DeMarino, V.  (1992).  Field Training for rapid transit police in New York City.  The Field Training Quarterly, 7, 47-55.

O’Keefe, James.  (1989).  Extending the scope of high speed police pursuit responsibilities: Houston experience.  The Police Chief, LVI, 32-40. 

O’Keefe, James.  (1988). High-speed pursuits – An international dilemma. Journal of the Joint Central Committee of England and Wales, XX1. 

O’Keefe, James, & Oettmeier, T.  (1988).  Field training implications of Houston’s Neighborhood Oriented Policing initiative.  The Field Training Quarterly, 2, 11-18.

Instructional Publications:

O’Keefe, James. [2004].  Protecting the republic: The education and training of American police officers – Instructor’s Guide.  ISBN 0-13-113662-3.  Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Publications.

O’Keefe, James. (2002).  Understanding terrorism – PowerPoint Instructor’s Guide.  To accompany Paul Maniscalco & Hank Christian,  Understanding terrorism and managing the consequences.  Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Publications. 

Forward:

O’Keefe, James. (1999). Protecting your life: Handbook for law enforcement professionals.  New York: LooseLeaf Law Publications, Inc.

Program Appearance/Attendance

·        Participated in the 134th Commencement Exercises on May 16, 2004.  Attended the main ceremony on the Great Lawn and presented the criminal justice undergraduate degrees at the College of Professional Studies ceremony. 

·        Attended the Vincentian Center for Church and Society “Deans/Fellows Luncheon,” on May 7, 2004.

·        Participated in the Staten Island Campus “College of Professional Studies New Student Reception,” on April 17, 2004 by meeting with new students and parents.

·        Participated in the Seventh Annual University-Wide Reception for Faculty Book Authors, on April 15, 2004, hosted by the Office of the Provost and the Center for Teaching & Learning.  

·        Attended the Criminal Justice Connection on the Staten Island Campus on March 10, 2004 and presented award to Police Commissioner.   

·        Attended the Faculty Convocation and the New Student Convocation, on August 31, 2004 and on September 2, 2003. 

·        Participated in the first “Academic Computing Initiative Workshop” on July 23, 2003, and actively involved in the faculty implementation phase of this innovative project.  This will allow me to participate in the most current advances in laptop teaching, research, and service to the students.   

·        Attended the 2003 40th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences on March 4-8, 2003 in Boston.  In addition to attending the conference, Dean Kathleen Voute MacDonald and I also attended the Prentice Hall “VIP Author Reception” to acknowledge the publication of my new book

·        Participated in “Accepted Students Weekend” on April 12, 2003.  As director of the Criminal Justice Program, I made presentation to approximately 100 new students and parents who were considering criminal justice as a major.

·        Attended the College of Professional Studies Awards Ceremonies on April 28, 2003 to recognize outstanding criminal justice students.

·        Participated in the Vincentian Center for Church and Society “Founders Week” Faculty Luncheon on January 27, 2004.